Current Exhibition

Visual art students at Emory & Henry display a rare creative and entrepreneurial spirit that starts with a unique hands-on approach to learning from our award-winning faculty. This expertise carries on long after graduation and into the professional world. Each individual explores a rich array of approaches toward creating while investing original ideas through painting, drawing, photography, collage, graphic design, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, and any number of combinations of art-making techniques.

We are proud to present their research at the McGlothlin Center for the Arts.

Veronica Garrou

Takes Two, archival pigment print, 2022 My work is focused around two topics – diverse storytelling and representation. Diverse storytelling is important to me as an artist because it provides a platform to share a range of narratives and shows that there is value in an array of experiences and perspectives. More specifically, storytelling focuses on circumstance, curiosity, characters, conversations, and conflicts. I want my show to embody these elements of storytelling through a diverse array of settings, characters, and conflicts, while presenting them in a format that would promote curiosity. I chose comic book covers because in this medium the cover art and layout are important in creating curiosity in the audience. Without a strong cover, it is unlikely a consumer would think to pick up a comic no matter the story being told inside.

The next topic my work focuses on is representation. When thinking about representation in my work I think there are three main ideas that are important. The first is that an individual can, if they try, connect to any character. More specifically, a character does not have to be an exact copy of an individual in terms of how you identify for you to connect to them. It is more the shared experiences that bind us. The second is that in modern media representation and in turn how you identify has become something that needs to be announced.But in reality a person’s sexuality, gender and race are more nuanced. One cannot know these specific things just by viewing someone’s presentation. This is present in my show through gender. I tried to present some characters as more neutral and in my feedback I have found many people see them as different genders. Lastly, I believe that the media needs to present characters and tell their stories without pigeonholing them according to their unique differences. This is why I tried to present a range of characters partaking in a range of experiences.

My work is meant to tell a range of stories and present an array of characters. My work exudes a sense of vibrant intrigue. Much like the media that inspires me it is unapologetic. I seek for my work to inspire others to create.

Josh Levy

Oh My God, intaglio and aquatint print, 9 3/4” x 13”, 2022 In my work I like to capture the emotions and essence of people and artists I admire and am inspired by. I listen to music most of the time while working and try to immortalize the feeling of the music in every work, and I have been drawn to these influences for a while now, even if I do not fully understand why. Furthermore, I work mainly with acrylic and oil paints on canvas and wood panel, and intaglio and aquatint printmaking. When it is appropriate, I also enjoy incorporating embroidery into my work, usually with beading.

Additionally, I am influenced by many queer and queer-supporting artists. I could only make art of people if I am sure that they love and support this community and everyone in it. Similarly, my artwork tends to gravitate towards figures of women. I love the strength of women and how they fight for their voices in a patriarchal society that tries to push them down and silence them. I do not necessarily feel like I, as a male identifying person, need to speak for the women that I paint, but I want to thank them for how they make me feel through their work, and their support for others.

Furthermore, color is one of the most prominent assets in my work and I try to make my color choices intentional and impactful. If one of my works is more solemn or more angry, peaceful or stressed, I want it to be perceivable in the color palette I have chosen. I never want somebody to be bored with what they see when they walk past one of my works. I want the colors to pull them in so they can see the details in the work up close.

Delaney Love

Forbidden Fruit, relief print with collage, 19 3/4” x 23 3/4”, 2022 There are many little memories that come to the forefront of one’s mind that are triggered by certain objects, smells, and even past events. Who would I be if I had not realized at the age of 10 sitting in my southern Baptist church that organized religion did not make sense to me? It seems to be a reminder every time I hear church bells, the smell of the air in the sanctuary, and the Sunday school class that shared gummies as a snack. For as long as I can remember I have loved researching the ideas of other religions and how the United States population sees it.

My relief prints are the production of years of wondering if there is a god. Could there be more than one? Why do we have to have one true religion in the world? Some people today do not fully respect the practices of others’ religions. Without the knowledge of these beliefs, the next generation but just the same. I choose relief print because in this medium can be molded to add my artistic style into it . Every piece in this collection utilizes gold leaf sheets; I chose this material because it gives the viewer something to decipher.

Through my research of these religions there is a creation of understanding of the lives of the people that follow them. My work is meant to tell a variety of stories with different points of view about multiple religions. The work that has been made is meant to inspire and bring forth an understanding of others and give hope to others to create.

Most of us are told that we should respect everyone’s opinion, so why can’t we respect that others may have different views than us?

Tara Sanders

Look Out!, archival pigment print, 2022 The human experience is a topic that has always fascinated me, specifically the way we interact with each other, ourselves and technology. With the introduction of social media, there has been a cultural shift amongst human beings and the way we communicate with each other; especially given how media surrounds our daily lives. The long-term effects of media consumption is something that affects everyone who uses it, and my art brings awareness to this social problem. While the specific struggles vary from piece to piece, the common denominator is media, its purpose, and how it is used recreationally. My designs and illustrations explore sensitive subjects with bold graphics, an explosion of color, calligraphic lines, and shape.

I create my art with programs such as Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign. My favorite traditional form of art to explore is paper collage, and I like to obtain my graphics from magazines and newspapers. My favorite element in my work is color because of its richness in symbolism, as well as how it interacts with viewers. Everyone sees color differently, yet we also see it similarly. The colors I’m drawn to in my work are meaningful to the subject within the work, but can also be up for interpretation, as color affects everyone differently.

I draw inspiration for my art from personal experiences as well as from peers. Although the generation before mine was the first to be exposed to social media and use it as the primary form of communicating, my generation has been gifted vices such as insecurity and mental health struggles on a silver platter, which can have life altering consequences.

Olivia Strouth

Be Still; page 8 , archival pigment print, 14” x 18”, 2022 I grew up admiring both printed comics and animated cartoons, longing for my work to be fully realized as a famous piece of media with rich storytelling, captivating designs, and heavy-hitting plotlines. Over the years, my art has developed into a darkly comedic, semi-realistic style, crafting anatomically plausible characters using digital mediums. I thoroughly enjoy bringing my imagination into the fringes of reality to interact in both fantastical and domestic situations.

One of the most noticeable parts of my characters is that they are unsettling, uncanny humanoid figures. These creatures navigate the pressures of conformity in different manners, representing the range of human experiences and individuality. Some have grown up and lost what makes them special, while others struggle to find their place in the world. How will they be allowed to feel human emotion while being viewed as something inhuman or evil? I ask myself this question every time I write about my art.

I am drawn, fervently, to seek understanding. My characters, beloved extensions of me, have been developed to tackle specific problems such as platonic relationships, navigating “embarrassing” personal interests, mental health and more. Each piece of art in this show partakes in the theme of overcoming problems as a group, aiming to conclude with the outcome of least pain. I know there will be sacrifices, and so do they. Reality and fantasy are richest when there are obstacles to overcome and a great, looming, impassable beast blocks their paths. May they work together and bring the truth to the surface regardless of who is left behind.

Sarah Thomas

Therapy Session , archival pigment print, 24” x 30”, 2022 For most of my life, I have battled several mental illnesses. I have witnessed first-hand what others have faced and would like to spread more awareness of this topic through imagery. My work focuses on exploring deep meanings through psychology and bringing awareness to mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and the process of recovery. I have always found interest in learning about how the mind works and what makes us who we are. This series was created through the combination of two of my favorite interests, art and psychology. Through my work, I am discovering and creating more ways to help bring more awareness to the severity and reality of mental illnesses.

My exhibition was created to help others better understand the lives of people who struggle with mental illnesses. Each design depicts one of nine mental illnesses or negative thoughts and emotions. There are six that cover seeking treatment and the process of recovery. With these designs, I hope to bring more awareness to the severity and reality of what people who battle with a mental illness face.

The primary medium I work with is digital design using the programs InDesign and Illustrator. In Illustrator, the imagery is created and then placed into InDesign with the already graphed out typography. To help make the typography and imagery harmonize, I design a specific background to match the meaning of the type and the energy of the image. Once the designs are complete, they are printed as archival pigment prints. Within this series, there are fifteen digital posters and an informational card for each poster. I chose this medium because it not only brings awareness to people who attend my show – the viewers are capable of spreading awareness through the distribution of the informational cards as well. For example, someone who visits my show can pick up one of the informational cards and spread more awareness outside of the show to a larger audience. This was the primary reason I chose digital design as the medium of my work. Digital design and typography are inspiring to work with and help me express my true emotions to a wide range of viewers.

Tommy Tomlin